As I did for the last couple of years, I will donate all the revenues generated by my Amazon Associate programs throughout December to Breast Cancer Research.

If you want to help, you don't have to donate a single penny. All I'm asking is for you to shop for your Holiday gifts via the various Amazon links you'll find throughout the Hotlist (the Canada, USA, Europe links).

So if you are looking for books, CDs, DVDs, video games, electronic devices, iPods, watches, and even clothes or groceries, please consider getting them through those links. Every penny raised brings us one step closer to the cure.

We managed to raise over 200$ last year, so here's to hoping that we can raise more this year! It's not that much, but it's the thought that counts! =)

When Brian Ruckley asked me if he could review graphic novels, I was all for it! Ruckley is the author of the Godless World trilogy, which is comprised of Winterbirth (Canada, USA, Europe), Bloodheir (Canada, USA, Europe) and Fall of Thanes (Canada, USA, Europe). His newest work, The Edinburgh Dead (Canada, USA, Europe) will be published in 2011.

To find out more about Brian Ruckley and his work, check out his official website.

Ruckley reviews the three collected editions of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez's Locke and Key:

Joe Hill’s probably best known in these parts as the author of acclaimed prose fiction – both short stories and novels – but he has yet another string to his creative bow: Locke and Key, a comics series that is assembled for your reading pleasure in rather gorgeous collected editions. Three have been published so far, with – I believe – another three to come in future years. A TV adaptation is already on the way, with a pilot due to start filming in January. That must mean it’s good, right? Let’s see ...

Locke and Key has some of the trappings of horror, and tends to be marketed as such, but is really more in the dark fantasy vein if you ask me. It is also, I reckon, a pretty remarkable achievement. Prose writers often seem to struggle with the transition to writing comics and graphic novels, as the latter make a radically different set of demands on the author. If Joe Hill found it a struggle, he’s concealed the fact quite brilliantly; and in Gabriel Rodriguez he’s partnered with a seriously gifted artist who brings his scripts to vivid life.

The story revolves around the bereaved Locke family – three children, Tyler, Bode and Kinsey, and their mother, all struggling to come to terms with the violent death of their father and husband. They move to Keyhouse, a rambling mansion in the town of Lovecraft, Massachusetts. As you’d expect in a town with such a name, unpleasant secrets abound.

Keys are the central fantastical conceit of the series, and a very clever one at that. Their number and nature is only gradually revealed as the plot – and the Locke children’s exploration of Keyhouse – progresses, and the reader shares in the curiosity and surprise (and sometimes alarm) each successive discovery engenders. One key turns its user into a disembodied ghost, another opens up heads and objectifies the memories and feelings within, a third allows instantaneous travel, and so on. It’s all good stuff, but it’s only part of the story. There is an evil presence in Keyhouse, too, which we’ll call Dodge, though he/she seems to wear a number of different names, and Dodge has his own plans for the keys, which he pursues with ruthless cruelty.

Much of this sounds like a sketch for a children’s fantasy. In fact, I’d say it’s a potentially inspired set-up for a series of children’s or young adult novels: a mysterious old house, magical keys, children competing with a bad guy to find and use them. Come to that, there might be some folk who imagine that because it’s in the form of comics and graphic novels, its intended audience is in that younger age range. But no: this isn’t for the kids. The violence is at times extreme and explicit – though not tipping over into gratuity – and the treatment of psychology and emotion is mature and unflinching. I don’t know whether Hill is deliberately playing with expectations by making something decidedly adult out of parts that seem superficially suited to the more juvenile, but either way, it works well.

The story is more complex and nuanced than it at first appears. I won’t say any more about the actual plot, as discovering those complexities and nuances is one of the great pleasures Locke and Key offers, so let’s just say that there is a lot of history behind the strange events taking over the lives of the Locke children, much of it rooted in their father’s own youth. The past is never far away; it overlaps with the present, both visually – flashbacks and memories are deftly interwoven with the present narrative – and in plot terms, since everything turns back on itself and joins up in a finely woven mesh. A density of connection and consequence and coincidence is built up in a way that could only be achieved in prose at great length; here it is knitted together with great economy, and because these are graphic novels, a great deal of it is shown, not told. These are books that expect and reward the reader’s attention.

The writing is enormously accomplished. Dialogue is crisp, clear and very effective in conveying character and unspoken emotion. The characters themselves are nicely constructed, and Hill writes the three children particularly well, capturing each of them as very distinctive voices that convincingly fit their respective ages. The children’s widowed mother is trapped in a struggle with grief and incipient alcoholism that is moving to observe. All of the Lockes are, in their different ways, engaging characters that feel entirely real, are convincingly wounded by the horrors they have experienced, and demand the reader’s affection and sympathy.

A word about the art: lovely. By which I mean technically accomplished, beautiful to look at, interesting, and expressive. Some readers may find that the style takes a bit of getting used to. It’s unusual, combining a rather European attention to realistic detail and clean lines with what looks to me like a faintly manga-influenced approach to figures and faces. (Rodriguez is in fact Chilean, so there may be entirely different South American influences in there that I’m missing). It has a clarity and precision that is slightly out of tune with how horror is usually illustrated, but any doubts are, for this reader anyway, negated by Rodriguez’ sheer craftsmanship as an artist and visual storyteller.

There’s a double page spread revealing the contents of Bode Locke’s imagination – literally, since his skull has been opened with one of those magical keys – that is as good an evocation of the inner life of a young boy as you could ever wish for. It’s an astonishingly intricate piece of illustration, crammed with beautifully observed details that are clever, funny and moving all at once. It’s something that could not be done in quite this way or with quite the same effect in any medium other than long form graphic fiction, and Hill and Rodriguez make it special. Later, in dramatic contrast to that intimate vision, there is a battle between a giant and a gigantic canine shadow monster that is eye-boggling.

All in all, Locke and Key is a package of goodness. Perhaps there are one or two sections that feel slightly less energetic and immediately relevant than most of it, but they are few and brief. Now and again the slight disjunction between the ‘feel’ of the art and the events it is displaying may resurface, and slightly dissipate the intended sense of threat, but to be honest the images are so interesting and appealing that you’re carried along quite smoothly.

For anyone curious about what the comics medium can do when it distances itself from capes-and-tights superheroics, this is as good a place to look as any. You’ll find fine writing, striking art, intelligent storytelling and an outpouring of. The first three collections – Welcome to Lovecraft, Head Games and Crown of Shadows – are all available now, and the fourth – Keys to the Kingdom – will be out early in 2011.

I've been giving this a lot of thought since my announcement last September, and these last few weeks I sort of had decided that I was going to call it quits. Sure, the detractors and the shit thrown my way had something to do with the whole process, but they were just a factor among many. All in all, I had the feeling that I had done pretty much everything I had ever envisioned for the Hotlist, and then some! So I figured the timing was just about right to go out on top.

Anyway, I'm moving in a few weeks, and I spent the last week or so painting my new apartment and getting my shit together for the move. As I was applying plaster in an attempt to cover a dumbass caulking job running the length of my kitchen counter, I realized that this was no way to spend a Saturday morning. Such mornings are usually spent sitting in my favorite chair, reading a book with a steaming cup of coffee.

Thinking that I should be back home with R. Scott Bakker's The White-Luck Warrior, it hit me that I couldn't really leave the game just yet. All the more so because of the fact that it took longer to complete the final edit of Steven Erikson's The Crippled God, and chances were that I might not be able to read and review it prior to retiring. The same thing goes for Patrick Rothfuss' The Wise Man's Fear. Can't quite turn my back on the SFF Blogosphere without polishing off these eagerly anticipated titles.

And out of spite -- I know it doesn't speak well of me -- I wanted to keep annoying all the haters out there. For some reason, this always warms my heart. :P As Sam Sykes told me: If you quit, then the terrorists have won.

So I'll be sticking around for a while. . . Get ready for more short, pathetic book reviews, crappy interviews, insipid articles, vapid SFF content, and the odd music video!

With Shadowheart (Canada, USA, Europe) coming out in a few short days, I knew it was high time to finally sit down and read Shadowrise. Like most Tad Williams fans, I was quite eager to read the conclusion to the Shadowmarch series. And like most of them, I was a little disappointed when it was announced that the final volume would be split into two installments to allow the author to tell the story in full.

My concern stemmed from the fact that, though Shadowplay moved the plot forward, all the major storylines and the cool stuff had seemingly been reserved for the last volume of the trilogy. Hence, cutting that one in half could result into another less-than-fully-satisfying reading experience. I was unsure if it would be possible to structure Shadowrise in a manner that would permit the author to make it a terrific read, and not keep all the major plot points for Shadowheart.

If you've read my reviews for both Shadowmarch and Shadowplay, you are aware that, even though I feel that the Shadowmarch series shows great potential, it has yet to fulfill the promise shown thus far. Back when I wrote my review for Shadowplay, I opined that given the way the storylines had been moved and the lack of resolution, Shadowrise had the potential to be one of the "must read" fantasy books when it was released. By adding a fourth volume to the series, I feared that Shadowrise would be another single instead of a resounding homerun.

Shame on me, I know. I've been reading Tad Williams for about two decades, so I should have known better. Ye of little faith and all that crap, I get it. Yes, I had a feeling that Williams had peaked out, that nothing he would write could capture the imagination the way Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn and Otherland did. Well, with Shadowrise Tad Williams set the record straight, at least where I'm concerned. He really did hit this one out of the ballpark, setting the stage for a rousing finale that could well be one of the very best speculative fiction novels of 2010.

Here's the blurb:

With King Olin imprisoned and Prince Kendrick slain, the royal twins Barrick and Briony have been forced to flee their homeland. But both families and nations can hide dark and terrible secrets, and even if Barrick and Briony survive learning the astonishing truths at the heart of their own family and of Southmarch itself, they must still find a way to reclaim their kingdom and rescue their home- from traitors, tyrants, a god-king, and even the angry gods themselves.

The worldbuilding is head and shoulders above what is the norm in today's SFF market. In Shadowrise Tad Williams is at the top of his form. A definite mythic resonance permeates the entire novel, demonstrating just how vast in scope and vision this series truly is. Loads of revelations are made, as Shadowrise continues to expand the concepts which were introduced in Shadowmarch and Shadowplay. Once again, I particularly enjoyed the depth with which the author elaborated on the variety of gods and the part they played in the past and the role they will play in the future.

Williams is a notorious slow starter, no question about it. Both Shadowmarch and Shadowplay suffered from bouts of sluggish rhythm, and I was wondering when the tale would kick into high gear. Not so with Shadowrise, which moves at a fluid pace throughout. Indeed, this could be the Tad Williams work featuring the best rhythm to date. Which bodes well for the forthcoming Shadowheart. The end game promises no dull moments from start to finish!

The characterization was the facet that I felt left the most to be desired in the first two installments. Which was due to the fact that the bulk of the tale was told through the eyes of both Barrick and Briony, two young adolescents who were not at the best of times endearing POV characters. Especially Briony, who more often than not was an annoying whiny brat. I'm pleased to report that character growth has transformed Briony into a more mature -- and hence more likeable -- POV character. I'll never fully like her, true, but I didn't find myself gritting my teeth every time I realized that I was starting yet another Briony chapter. As hard as it is to admit, Briony is slowly coming together as a believable young woman of royal lineage.

Still, it's Barrick's storyline which carries the entire book. We saw glimpses of his importance in both Shadowmarch and Shadowplay, but in Shadowrise he truly takes central stage. It appears that the entire Qar plotline will revolve around him, promising a lot more to come in Shadowheart. The same could be said of the Autarch, whose mad plan is finally revealed. Vansen also emerges as a main character, and his storyline takes the reader along unanticipated paths. Qinnitan continues to be the most intriguing protagonist, and it will be interesting to discover how and where she fits in the bigger scheme of things.

With this book, Williams proves once again that he deserves his place among the best epic fantasy authors writing today. Shadowrise is hands down Tad Williams' most impressive work since Sea of Silver Light.

Men tend to forget the world’s true proportion, to think the paltry measure of their ambition can plumb the horizon. It is a genius of theirs. But some lands, by dint of monumental heights or sheer, stark emptiness, contradict this conceit, remind them that they are never so big as the obstacles the World might raise against them.

I love this new Jon Sullivan cover art for Mark Hodder's The Curious Case of the Clockwork Man. It's the sequel to The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Canada, USA, Europe). For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

It is 1862, though not the 1862 it should be...

Time has been altered, and Sir Richard Francis Burton, the king’s agent, is one of the few people who know that the world is now careening along a very different course from that which Destiny intended.

When a clockwork-powered man of brass is found abandoned in Trafalgar Square, Burton and his assistant, the wayward poet Algernon Swinburne, find themselves on the trail of the stolen Garnier Collection—black diamonds rumored to be fragments of the Lemurian Eye of Naga, a meteorite that fell to Earth in prehistoric times.

His investigation leads to involvement with the media sensation of the age: the Tichborne Claimant, a man who insists that he’s the long lost heir to the cursed Tichborne estate. Monstrous, bloated, and monosyllabic, he’s not the aristocratic Sir Roger Tichborne known to everyone, yet the working classes come out in force to support him. They are soon rioting through the streets of London, as mysterious steam wraiths incite all-out class warfare.

From a haunted mansion to the Bedlam madhouse, from South America to Australia, from séances to a secret labyrinth, Burton struggles with shadowy opponents and his own inner demons, meeting along the way the philosopher Herbert Spencer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Florence Nightingale, and Charles Doyle (father of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle).

Can the king’s agent expose a plot that threatens to rip the British Empire apart, leading to an international conflict the like of which the world has never seen? And what part does the clockwork man have to play?

Burton and Swinburne’s second adventure—The Clockwork Man of Trafalgar Square—is filled with eccentric steam-driven technology, grotesque characters, and a deepening mystery that pushes forward the three-volume story arc begun in The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack.

This thread on sffworld.com has engendered a very interesting discussion, one that is worth checking out.

Here's a teaser:

Male leads dominate literature, movies, television, games, etc. It is possible for a women to ignore all male lead stories but it means missing out on a lot of culture. And in terms of our schooling, etc., we're exposed to a large number of male pov's and male leads as the default by the time we hit our teens. Consequently, women are very comfortable with male leads in stories. But males can easily avoid female lead stories and consequently, many of them are uncomfortable with female leads and female pov's. For boys and teens, reading female lead stories, especially if written by female authors, indicates feminization to other males, which is considered evidence of outcast status and/or homosexual tendencies. Boys get teased for reading for pleasure and they get teased for reading anything deemed too "girly." So you only get the percentage of male teen readers willing to run through that gauntlet.

I received an extra copy of Songs of Love & Death, an anthology edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois. So I'm giving it away to one lucky winner! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate. Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see. International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost. New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart. Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.

Just received my copies of the signed limited edition of Speculative Horizons!

I was a bit giddy when I opened the box and saw what was inside. Sure, I knew they were coming my way, and I did receive ARCs a few months back. But nothing can beat the feeling you get when you hold a book with your name on it! Okay, so it only says "edited by Patrick St-Denis" on the cover, but that still made my day!

The cover works well; much better than I envisioned. I had never seen the back cover and it goes well with the illustration you see at the top of this post. A quote from the PW review is printed on the back cover, which is nice. All in all, what with the signatures and the interior artwork, it looks quite cool, if I may say so myself!

Subterranean Press should start shipping Speculative Horizons soon. If you want to help raise funds for cancer research, or if you are just curious and wish to give the anthology a shot, it's now available for pre-order via the Subterranean Press website. Otherwise, if you want to get it at a discount, it's also available on various Amazon sites: Canada, USA, Europe.

You can read an extract from C. S. Friedman's short story here, and one from Hal Duncan's short story here.

Here's the blurb:

Speculative fiction is wide in scope and styles, and Speculative Horizons showcases the talent and storytelling skills of five of the genre’s most imaginative voices:In C. S. Friedman’s “Soul Mate,” it’s love at first sight for Josie at the arts and crafts festival when she meets the handsome Stephan Mayeaux. It all sounds too good to be true until her newfound boyfriend starts to act strangely and unexplained occurrences begin to take place around her.In Tobias S. Buckell’s “The Eve of the Fall of Habesh,” contragnartii Jazim must carry out one final assignment before the armies of the Sea People lay waste to the city he loves.L. E. Modesitt, Jr. returns to the universe of his bestselling Recluce saga in “The Stranger.” A young herder’s existence will be forever changed by the unexpected arrival of the black-clad man recounting tales of angels living on the summit of the Roof of the World.In “Flint,” Brian Ruckley introduces us to a young and inexperienced shaman who must venture into the spirit world to discover the source of the sickness which afflicts his tribe before they are all wiped out.Talk to any cop working for Homicide, Narcotics, or Vice, and they’ll tell you that they get the worst cases imaginable. But in Hal Duncan’s “The Death of a Love,” you realize that they have nothing on Erocide.

I'm seldom moved or disturbed by movies. The Stoning of Soraya M. did both in equal measures.

A "must see" film, if ever there was one. Especially for women. . .

Based on Freidoune Sahebjam's bestseller, it recounts the harrowing story of Soraya Manutchehri. Her husband was an ambitious man, prone to rage and violence. He wanted a way out of his marriage in order to marry a 14-year-old girl, but refused to support two families or return Soraya's dowry. When Soraya began cooking for a friend's widowed husband, he found his excuse: abetted by village authorities, he accused his wife of adultery. She was taken away, buried up to her waist, and then stoned to death.

Here's the new book trailer for Greg Bear's new science fiction novel, Hull Zero Three. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

A starship hurtles through the emptiness of space. Its destination - unknown. Its purpose - a mystery. Its history - lost.

Now, one man wakes up. Ripped from a dream of a new home-a new planet and the woman he was meant to love in his arms-he finds himself, wet, naked, and freezing to death. The dark halls are full of monsters but trusting other survivors he meets might be the greater danger.

All he has are questions-- Who is he? Where are they going? What happened to the dream of a new life? What happened to the woman he loved? What happened to Hull 03?

All will be answered, if he can survive. Uncover the mystery. Fix the ship. Find a way home.

HULL ZERO THREE is an edge of your seat thrill ride through the darkest reaches of space.

I have three copies of L. E. Modesitt, jr.'s Empress of Eternity for you to win, courtesy of the folks at Tor Books. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

In the far future, an indestructible and massive canal more than 2,000 miles long spans the mid-continent of Earth. Nothing can mar it, move it, or affect it in any fashion. At its western end, where it meets the sea, is an equally indestructible structure comprising three levels of seemingly empty chambers.Scientists from three different civilizations, separated in time by hundreds of thousands of years, are investigating the canal. In the most distant of these civilizations, religious rebellion is brewing. A plot is hatched to overthrow the world government of the Vanir, using a weapon that can destroy anything-except the canal. If used at full power it might literally unravel the universe and destroy all life forever. The lives and fates of all three civilizations become intertwined as the forces behind the canal react to the threat, and all three teams of scientists find their lives changed beyond belief.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "ETERNITY." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

The mercenaries of the Raven journey to the heart of the elven continent of Calaius to save the land from dying in a superbly visualized fantasy adventure reminiscent of Glen Cook's classic Black Company tales.

McCaffrey, Todd. Dragongirl. Del Rey: Ballantine.

Devotion and sacrifice are the twin keys that will save Pern from a plague that is killing the dragons necessary to combat the deadly space-born spore that falls from the sky. The son of sf Grand Master Anne McCaffrey continues the beloved world created by his mother.

Miéville, China. Kraken. Del Rey: Ballantine.

Museum curator Billy Harrow tracks the preserved corpse of a giant squid through a London populated by cultists, paranormal investigators, and supernatural scoundrels. Brilliant storytelling and doses of eccentric humor and eerily compelling horror call to mind the works of H.P. Lovecraft, Jules Verne, and H.G. Wells.

Conspiracy and murder threaten the grand city of Villjamur as an ice age's approach brings throngs of refugees to civilization's heart. Newton's outstanding fantasy series debut is filled with splendid imagery and compelling dramatic conflicts.

White, Skyler. And Falling, Fly. Berkley: Penguin Group (USA).

A neuroscientist seeking to cure his memories of past lives meets a fallen angel of desire in an underground asylum. One of the year's most unusual blends of supernatural fiction and urban fantasy.

Hmm, kind of an odd list. Not surprised to see Miéville in there, and I'm happy for both James Barclay and Mark Charan Newton. Anything that can give those guys some exposure on this side of the pond is a good thing. But Todd McCaffrey??? And I never heard of White's novel. . .

When I heard that Tobias S. Buckell and Paolo Bacigalupi had created a shared world in which both authors would write a novella, I knew I wanted to be in on this. Partly because both are talented writers, and partly out of curiosity to see what sort of world they would come up with. So when I received a package from Subterranean Press containing both novellas, they immediately ended up on the top of my "books to read" pile.

Here's the blurb for the shared world:

Magic has a price. But someone else will pay.

Every time a spell is cast, a bit of bramble sprouts, sending up tangling vines, bloody thorns, and threatening a poisonous sleep. It sprouts in tilled fields and in neighbors’ roof beams, thrusts up from between street cobbles, and bursts forth from sacks of powdered spice. A bit of magic, and bramble follows. A little at first, and then more— until whole cities are dragged down under tangling vines and empires lie dead, ruins choked by bramble forest. Monuments to people who loved magic too much.

In paired novellas, award-winning authors Tobias Buckell and Paolo Bacigalupi explore a shared world where magic is forbidden and its use is rewarded with the axe. A world of glittering memories and a desperate present, where everyone uses a little magic, and someone else always pays the price.

And here's the blurb for the novella:

Magic has a price.

In Khaim, that price is your head if you’re found using it. For the use of magic comes with a side effect: it creates bramble. The bramble is a creeping, choking menace that has covered majestic ancient cities, and felled civilizations. In order to prevent the spread of the bramble, many lose their heads to the cloaked executioners of Khaim.

Tana is one of these executioners, taking the job over from her ailing father in secret, desperate to keep her family from starvation. But now her family has been captured by raiders, and taken to a foreign city.

So Khaim’s only female executioner begins a quest to bring her family back together. A bloody quest that will change lives, cities, and even an entire land, forever. A quest that will create the legend of The Executioness.

The worldbuilding is "top notch." So much so that the novella format prevents Buckell from doing justice to the universe both he and Bacigalupi created. Though the story arc comprising the tale that is The Executioness is rather straightforward, everything around it resounds with depth. It's in the details, the ambience set by the evocative narrative. The religious fanatism of the Southern Isles, Paika, and the Way added another dimension to a story that may have been better served with a full novel. In light of all that, it bodes well for Bacigalupi's novella.

The Executioness packs a good punch, no question about it. And yet, Buckell offers us glimpses of several fascinating concepts, but sadly the author can't truly elaborate on most of them. Hence, though the novella is a good read, you reach the end hoping there could have been so much more.

The characterization is well-done and Tana is a well-drawn protagonist. Again, the format precluded a more thorough fleshing out of the character, and I felt that the transition of mother, to executioness, to army leader was more than a little rushed. But I loved how Buckell showed how someone's legend can often be based on exaggerated half-truths and lies, all in the name of a common good.

Can't wait to read Paolo Bacigalupi's novella, The Alchemist. Here's to hoping that both authors will consider returning to this shared world for more tales. . .

Kudos to J. K. Drummond for the beautiful artwork for the two novellas' covers.

Do you remember when Mystar was talking all that shit about the series, that it would never see the light, etc? And now it's evident that Game of Thrones will make Legend of the Seeker look like a direct to DVD low-budget release. . .

“They say Black Dow’s killed more men than winter, and clawed his way to the throne of the North up a hill of skulls. The King of the Union, ever a jealous neighbour, is not about to stand smiling by while he claws his way any higher. The orders have been given and the armies are toiling through the northern mud. Thousands of men are converging on a forgotten ring of stones, on a worthless hill, in an unimportant valley, and they’ve brought a lot of sharpened metal with them. Bremer dan Gorst, disgraced master swordsman, has sworn to reclaim his stolen honour on the battlefield. Obsessed with redemption and addicted to violence, he’s far past caring how much blood gets spilled in the attempt. Even if it’s his own.Prince Calder isn’t interested in honour, and still less in getting himself killed. All he wants is power, and he’ll tell any lie, use any trick, and betray any friend to get it. Just as long as he doesn’t have to fight for it himself.Curnden Craw, the last honest man in the North, has gained nothing from a life of warfare but swollen knees and frayed nerves. He hardly even cares who wins any more, he just wants to do the right thing. But can he even tell what that is with the world burning down around him?Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail…Three men. One battle. No Heroes.”

Well, Speculative Horizons garnered another positive review, this time courtesy of John Ottinger from Grasping for the Wind. You can read it here.

If all goes well, the anthology should become available before the month is out. If you want to help raise funds for cancer research, or if you are just curious and wish to give the anthology a shot, it's now available for pre-order via the Subterranean Press website. Otherwise, if you want to get it at a discount, it's also available on various Amazon sites: Canada, USA, Europe.

You can read an extract from C. S. Friedman's short story here, and one from Hal Duncan's short story here.

I have five copies of Tad Williams' Shadowheart up for grabs, compliments of the fine folks at Daw Books! For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Here's the blurb:

Thousands of years ago the gods fought and fell in the deeps beneath what is now Southmarch Castle, then were banished into eternal sleep. Now at least one of them is stirring again, dreaming of vengeance against humankind.Southmarch haunts the dreams of men as well as gods. Royal twins Barrick and Briony Eddon, the heirs of Southmarch’s ruling family, are hurrying back home as well: Barrick now carries the heritage of the immortal Qar inside him, and Briony has a small army at her back and a fiery determination to recover her father’s throne and revenge herself on the usurpers.The cruel and powerful southern ruler known as the Autarch of Xis wants the power of the gods for his own, a power he can only gain if he conquers Southmarch. And nobody knows what the Qar want, only that the mysterious fairy-folk are prepared to die for it – or to kill every living thing in Southmarch Castle and in all the lands around.It will come to an apocalyptic conclusion on Midsummer Night, when the spirits of the haunted past and the desperate struggles of the present come together in one great final battle. Many will die. Many more will be transformed out of all recognition, and the world will be forever changed.

The rules are the same as usual. You need to send an email at reviews@(no-spam)gryphonwood.net with the header "SHADOWHEART." Remember to remove the "no spam" thingy.

As Anasûrimbor Kellhus and his Great Ordeal march ever farther into the perilous wastes of the Ancient North, Esmenet finds herself at war with not only the Gods, but her own family as well. Achamian, meanwhile, leads his own ragtag expedition to the legendary ruins of Sauglish, and to a truth he can scarce survive, let alone comprehend. Into this tumult walks the White-Luck Warrior, assassin and messiah both, executing a mission as old as the World’s making …The White-Luck Warrior is a story filled with heart-stopping action, devious treachery, grand passion and meticulous detail. It is both a classic quest tale and a high fantasy war story.

Now I just need to finish Robin Hobb's Dragon Haven (Canada, USA, Europe) and GRRM and Gardner Dozois' Songs of Love & Death (Canada, USA, Europe) so I can sink my teeth into this one!

I'll try to get Bakker to agree to let me post a teaser excerpt, but he's always refused in the past. . .

The folks at Geeks are Sexy came up with tips for a healthy geek relationship:

So you’ve finally fallen in love with the geek of your dreams. All those misty montages you dreamed of while searching for that special someone will finally come to being: both of you staying up at all hours playing WoW, sharing a bucket of popcorn during Ironman 2, both reaching for the same comics issue and giggling as your hands touch…

But wait. What’s that you say? It’s not as easy as all that? Conflict? Wait a second…

It’s true. Having fallen in love with and married another geek, I have to say just because we hold a great many hobbies in common doesn’t mean that we get along all the time. In fact, sometimes our geeky hobbies are the direct cause of our duress. After wrestling with my husband over the XBox last night, I thought I’d profile a few of the most common conflicts in a geek relationship and offer some advice as to how to steer through them.

Click on the aforementioned link for tips about console conflict, fandome conflict, attention conflict, cuisine conflict, and family conflict.

For the record: A guy wearing a "Team Edward" shirt or any Twilight memorabilia should immediately be put to death. There's having weak moral fiber, and then there's going too far. . . :P

Meant to post this when I saw it on Westeros a few days back, but it totally slipped my mind. . .

Melanie Rawn fans rejoice, for The Diviner will finally be released next summer. The painting is by Gordon Crabbe. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

The Diviner is a prequel to The Golden Key (Canada, USA, Europe), which was co-authored by Melanie Rawn, Jennifer Roberson and Kate Elliot. It is said that both Elliott and Roberson will also write prequels to The Golden Key.

Edited by George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, the Songs of Love & Death anthology appears to have flown under the radar. I'm not sure if ARCs were sent out, but I just received a finished copy a few days ago. Given the quality and popularity of the contributors, I was expecting this anthology to be released with more fanfare. . .

I started reading it this afternoon, and so far I'm enjoying Songs of Love & Death even more than I enjoyed Warriors (Canada, USA, Europe). The Neil Gaiman piece was particularly good. For more info about this title: Canada, USA, Europe.

Anyone else reading this book??? Check it out!

Here's the blurb:

In this star-studded cross-genre anthology, seventeen of the greatest modern authors of fantasy, science fiction, and romance explore the borderlands of their genres with brand-new tales of ill-fated love. From zombie-infested woods in a postapocalyptic America to faery-haunted rural fields in eighteenth- century England, from the kingdoms of high fantasy to the alien world of a galaxy-spanning empire, these are stories of lovers who must struggle against the forces of magic and fate.

Award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman demonstrates why he’s one of the hottest stars in literature today with “The Thing About Cassandra,” a subtle but chilling story of a man who meets an old girlfriend he had never expected to see.

International blockbuster bestselling author Diana Gabaldon sends a World War II RAF pilot through a stone circle to the time of her Outlander series in “A Leaf on the Winds of All Hallows.” Torn from all he knows, Jerry MacKenzie determinedly survives hardship and danger, intent on his goal of returning home to his wife and baby—no matter the cost.

New York Times bestselling author Jim Butcher presents “Love Hurts,” in which Harry Dresden takes on one of his deadliest adversaries and in the process is forced to confront the secret desires of his own heart.

Just the smallest sampling promises unearthly delights, but look also for stories by New York Times bestselling romance authors Jo Beverley and Mary Jo Putney, and by such legends of the fantasy genre as Peter S. Beagle and Tanith Lee, as well as many other popular and beloved writers, including Marjorie M. Liu, Jacqueline Carey, Carrie Vaughn, and Robin Hobb. This exquisite anthology, crafted by the peerless editing team of George R. R. Martin and Gardner Dozois, is sure to leave you under its spell.

The results are in for our last poll and I'm a bit surprised. When asked which book among a shortlist of the most eagerly anticipated SFF titles I should read prior to retiring, the results are as follows:

Hmm, I was expecting Abercrombie to finish at least in third place, possibly in second place. Oh well. . .

As for this new survey, do you believe that any main characters in The Wheel of Time will die in A Memory of Light? And by main characters I'm thinking about people such as Rand, Mat, Perrin, Egwene, Elayne, Nynaeve, Aviendha, Lan, Moiraine, Gawyn, etc. Personally, I'm pretty much convinced that none of them will kick the bucket.

With a death toll of thousands of people throughout Randland during the course of the series, it's kind of weird that none of the main protagonists even came close to death. So I've given up hope that a few curve balls will be thrown our way before the end of Tarmon Gai'don.

Still, I've read on message boards that some WoT fans were terrified that Rand would actually kill Min (no offense, but you have to be kind of stupid to truly believe that would ever happen), or that following Perrin's storyline in ToM kept them at the edge of their seat with the possibility that a certain Forsaken could strike at any moment. . . So I guess that some people are believers. . .